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Hostess Rise'
Board Administrator
Username: Rise
Post Number: 16920
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2011 - 11:42 am: | 
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I have to announce some great news.
My PFT's greatly improved as of yesterday as I had an official pft test.
I was not feeling my full energetic self and did well anyway. This was the first PFT test in a long time where I actually did well even though I was having a bad day energy wise.
I guess transplant patients can improve their lung functions many years out.
I attribute my increase due to eating additional anti-inflammatory foods such as pumpkin seeds/pumpkin seed butter.
Swimming helps but I have not been swimming like I was.
I know when I go back for another PFT test in three months I will improve again because usually when I feel the way I did yesterday I increase my ten percent.
Having a goal for yourself always helps!
Another possible answer to my improvement was that I started to use my Vest several times per week. The vest teaches you to breathe more deeply and perhaps that has something to do it with it as well.
Many of us have to take anti inflammatory drugs but I believe that eating healthy foods and taking minimal supplementation helps. I have recently decreased many of my vitamins.
Whatever the case maybe, I have become super duper inspired by the results of my diet.
I plan on discovering new foods and spices to add to my current day mix.
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Hostess Rise'
Board Administrator
Username: Rise
Post Number: 16921
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2011 - 11:48 am: |
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Opps! I forgot to announce
My FEf 25-75% increased greatly. My FEV 1 and FVC are up too.
I wish I could go back next week when I am feeling well to see the difference. I will just have to remain relaxed untll the next time. LOL
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Jack
Forum Leader
Username: Johnhollenbach56
Post Number: 539
Registered: 12-2009
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2011 - 12:25 pm: |
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mine seem to have gone up this year as well . . . must be something in the air
Jack Hollenbach
Received double lung transplant August 2 & 3, 2007 for COPD at UCSD Thornton Hospital, San Diego, CA
Live each day to your fullest, for it is a gift to be treasured |
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Jay Lackritz
Forum Leader
Username: Jay_ny
Post Number: 472
Registered: 01-2007
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2011 - 01:17 pm: |
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Way cool, Rise'.
Pumpkin seeds, huh? Hope they're unsalted. 
So, Halloween is good for something besides dentists.
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Hostess Rise'
Board Administrator
Username: Rise
Post Number: 16922
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2011 - 01:50 pm: |
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Yes the pumpkin seeds that I buy are unsalted. I also buy salted too because I have CF and need extra salt. Eden foods has a great spicy mix. YUMMY!! I mix the two of them together.
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Hostess Rise'
Board Administrator
Username: Rise
Post Number: 16923
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2011 - 02:21 pm: |
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oops! I should have read this page from Dr. Mercola before buying the Roasted seeds.
http://www.mercola.com/nutritionplan/foodalert.htm#PumpkinSeeds
"Pumpkin Seeds
•Pumpkin seeds are high in zinc, which is good for the prostate and building the immune system.
•They also contain fatty acids that kill parasites.
•Raw pumpkin seeds contain essential fatty acids and beneficial proteins.
•For maximum nutritional benefits, seeds should be eaten raw.
•Roasted seeds contain damaged fat that can lead to plaque in the arteries."
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ajs
Forum Leader
Username: Ajs
Post Number: 676
Registered: 03-2008
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2011 - 02:30 pm: |
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That's great to hear, Rise'! Could it at all be because the humidity in Florida has gone down in the Fall?
Funny things, those PFTs. Mine have been down 10% from my high a year and a half ago, but I feel better than ever. I closely watch my exercise tolerance, and that has only gotten better. And I even lost 18 lbs this year. Low carb, high protein and just eating less especially during the day. I think I may get off insulin completely in a couple of weeks. Only on Lantus at night right now. Januvia works well for me.
Keep moving up!
Armand
Double-Lung transplant at Duke on 10/27/08
Pulmonary Fibrosis with traction bronchiectasis
Live each day as if you were living forever, and live each moment as if it were your last.
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Jay Lackritz
Forum Leader
Username: Jay_ny
Post Number: 473
Registered: 01-2007
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2011 - 02:40 pm: |
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Oooohhhh!
Builds up the immune system? Not good!
Plaque in the arteries? Also not good.
Oh well. Good thing I didn't rush out to the store. 
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Hostess Rise'
Board Administrator
Username: Rise
Post Number: 16926
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2011 - 02:49 pm: |
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Jay- all healthy foods build the immune system.
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Hostess Rise'
Board Administrator
Username: Rise
Post Number: 16928
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2011 - 02:55 pm: |
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AJS- I never thought about the humidity factor. Very interesting!
Since the weather here is often quite humid, I am sure I will have my PFT's again during a humid time.
You seem to think outside of the box like me
I am sure I have had a PFT during the winter months but I never took note on this factor but will for the future.
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Hostess Rise'
Board Administrator
Username: Rise
Post Number: 16929
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2011 - 03:02 pm: |
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I am not advocating that anyone buys pumpkin seeds.
These the are the pumpkin seeds that I currently have in my pantry. Since Dr. Mercola says not to eat Roasted pumpkin seeds, I will probably return them 
http://www.vitacost.com/Eden-Foods-Spicy-Pumpkin-Seeds-Low-Sodium
I also have plain unsalted raw pumpkin seeds that I can spice up myself.
You all have to remember that since I have Cystic Fibrosis I have completely different nutritional requirements to most of you on this website who do not have CF. Salt is my friend, then again everything in moderation.
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ajs
Forum Leader
Username: Ajs
Post Number: 677
Registered: 03-2008
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2011 - 03:06 pm: |
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Jay- There are different parts of the immune system. The one controlling organ rejection is obviously the part they target with our meds. I take NAC every single day, twice a day, which is supposedly an immune booster and free-radical scavenger. Not sure that is what's keeping me healthy, but (knock on wood) I just don't get sick. Two colds in three years. My wife has been sick twice this Fall, once with a bad cough, I didn't get it.
Not what I expected from what they told me at transplant. I thought my 'suppressed immune system' would leave me getting everything that came down the pike.
Double-Lung transplant at Duke on 10/27/08
Pulmonary Fibrosis with traction bronchiectasis
Live each day as if you were living forever, and live each moment as if it were your last.
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Jay Lackritz
Forum Leader
Username: Jay_ny
Post Number: 474
Registered: 01-2007
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2011 - 07:26 pm: |
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ajs,
You should also be taking a Vitamin C supplement if you are on NAC. If you weren't aware of this, I can go and find you some references.
Which part of the immune system has nothing to do with rejecting foreign body parts? And which part is only concerned with organ rejection and not other functions?
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Hostess Rise'
Board Administrator
Username: Rise
Post Number: 16934
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, December 03, 2011 - 10:13 am: |
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Interesting conversations! I like when a conversation flows into other subjects it is sort of like talking live.
I wanted to share something and looking for feedback as I will do further research on this topic myself---
Besides eating pumpkin seeds daily, I add in brazil nuts, pine nuts, almonds, cashews, chia seeds, gluten free oats, a tiny amount of honey(sometimes), walnuts, haselnut(crushed) and probably some more nuts that I cannot think of at this time.
The reason why I feel that pumpkin seeds are the best for me is that I was consuming larger amounts for a few weeks. Not really enough data for me to claim such a benefit yes, as each day I feel different. Whatever the case maybe, I am still fired up to research and read books on the foods that have anti-inflammatory properties. I know I am already eating most of them but now more than ever I want to explore more.
Hopefully one day someone will write a book about the benefits and importance of nutrition and transplantation. It is my belief that everyone would need to explore what foods are the best for them. There is so much information out there waiting to be discovered
Edited to add:
Yes I forgot many of the ingredients. I add in coconut flakes, macadamia nuts, freeze dried strawberries and a tablespoon of raisins.
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ajs
Forum Leader
Username: Ajs
Post Number: 678
Registered: 03-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, December 04, 2011 - 12:20 pm: |
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Hi Jay- I hadn't heard that, but have C in my multiple. We had heard that zinc and selenium were something to be sure you were getting. I'm sure you've heard me say this, but NAC has almost the same mechanim of action as Azithromycin, the inhibition of IL-8, which is an inflammatory marker.
I think the Immunoglobulin profile is where you see the different parts of the immune system. I see that my G & A fall within the normal ranges, but the M & E are at the rock bottom of normal. But I could be wrong about that. It's something I remember hearing at one time. If they suppressed everything all the time, you'd constantly be sick.
Double-Lung transplant at Duke on 10/27/08
Pulmonary Fibrosis with traction bronchiectasis
Live each day as if you were living forever, and live each moment as if it were your last.
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Jay Lackritz
Forum Leader
Username: Jay_ny
Post Number: 476
Registered: 01-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, December 04, 2011 - 01:03 pm: |
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ajs,
When taking N-acetyl cysteine it is recommended that two to three times as much vitamin C be taken at the same time. Failure to do so may result in more harm than good from taking this product because of the prolonged presence of the oxidized form of L-Cysteine. The vitamin C also helps keep the glutathione that is produced from the Cysteine in its reduced form so that it can continue acting as an antioxidant.
Anti-viral effect
Many viruses, including the influenza virus and the virus that causes AIDS, require a special enzyme to multiply inside the cell. This enzyme is called reverse transcriptase, and is the target of several anti-viral drugs including AZT for HIV disease. N-acetylcysteine and vitamin C in combination are also powerful inhibitors of this enzyme, and dramatically reduce the ravages of this class of virus.
I realize that the suggested does is two 600 mg. NAC pills daily, with meals (1200 mg daily dose), and twice that in Vitamin C, or 2,000 mg - 2,500 mg of Vitamin C complex daily. That's 2 to 2 1/2 grams of C. As such, you, as always, should check with your doctor. It should be noted that Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, so unlike Vitamins A, D, or E, any excess is excreted in your urine, so it cannot build up in your system like fat soluble vitamins.
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Hostess Rise'
Board Administrator
Username: Rise
Post Number: 16965
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - 06:55 pm: |
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It turns out that my love for the Dry roasted spicy mix is fine because it is dry. Mercola's website shared to not eat roasted because it is made with oils etc...
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Rebecca Russell
Member
Username: Rebeccarussell
Post Number: 1
Registered: 01-2012
| | Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2012 - 03:58 pm: |
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Congratulations on your improved PFT! Also, if you want to monitor your lung function in the comfort of your own home and on a regular basis, you could try a personal or home spirometer like Spiro PD. |
Rebecca Russell
Member
Username: Rebeccarussell
Post Number: 2
Registered: 01-2012
| | Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2012 - 04:01 pm: |
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Congratulations on your improved PFT! Also, if you want to monitor your lung function in the comfort of your own home and on a regular basis, you could try a personal or home spirometer like Spiro PD. |
Jennie
Member
Username: Jennie
Post Number: 45
Registered: 03-2010
| | Posted on Monday, January 16, 2012 - 11:23 am: |
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Rise, so good to hear your good news about PFTs! I believe I respond poorly to humid weather. This has beenthe case since my transplant. I can't think what we can do about that, wish I did.
But sounds like you have success through nutrition. Always so good if we are empowered by our own actions.
Take care of yourself. |
Holly
Member
Username: Holly
Post Number: 537
Registered: 09-2007
| | Posted on Monday, January 16, 2012 - 12:51 pm: |
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Hey Rise,
Glad to hear your good news. Always nice to hear the positive!
I have started this year to try not to eat anything processed. It seems to be making a difference in how I feel but hard to do. I did find a bread called Good for Life Ezekiel 4:9 (yep, from the Bible) and it's flourless and made with seeds and REALLY good.
I think it's amazing hoe food can and does affect us so much more than we know!
Hope to get better news soon about your next set of PFT"S
Lots of HUGS
Holly Mulkerin
Medina Ohio
Heart transplant 1/28/09 I have a Happy Heart
Be kind. Remember that everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. Harry Thompson
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